John Enderby | Page 6

King would make thee an outlaw, would seize upon thy estates, because thou wouldst not pay the price of a paltry knighthood!" Suddenly her face flushed, the blood came back with a rush, and she stood upon her feet. "I would follow thee to the world's end rather than that thou shouldst pay one penny for that honour. The King offered thee knighthood? Why, two hundred years before the King was born, an Enderby was promised an earldom. Why shouldst thou take a knighthood now? Thou didst right, thou didst right." Her fingers clasped in eager emphasis.
"Dost thou not see, my child," said he, "that any hour the King's troops may surround our house and take me prisoner and separate thee from me? I see but one thing to do; even to take thee at once from here and place thee with thy aunt, Mistress Falkingham, in Shrewsbury."
"Father," the girl said, "thou shalt not put me away from thee. Let the King's men surround Enderby House and the soldiers and my Lord Rippingdale levy upon the estates of Enderby. Neither his Majesty nor my Lord Rippingdale dare put a finger upon me--I would tear their eyes out."
Enderby smiled half sadly at her, and answered "The fear of a woman is one of the worst fears in this world. Booh!"
So ludicrously did he imitate her own manner of a few moments before that humour drove away the flush of anger from her face, and she sat upon his chair-arm and said:
"But we will not part; we will stand here till the King and Lord Rippingdale do their worst--is it not so, father?"
He patted her head caressingly.
"Thou sayest right, my lass; we will remain at Enderby. Where is thy brother Garrett?"
"He has ridden over to Mablethorpe, but will return within the hour," she replied.
At that moment there was a sound of hoofs in the court-yard. Running to a rear window of the library Mistress Felicity clapped her hands and said:
"It is he--Garrett."
Ten minutes afterwards the young man entered. He was about two years older than his sister; that is, seventeen. He was very tall for his age, with dark hair and a pale dry face, and of distinguished bearing. Unlike his father, he was slim and gracefully built, with no breadth or power to his shoulders, but with an athletic suppleness and a refinement almost womanlike. He was tenacious, overbearing, self-willed, somewhat silent and also somewhat bad-tempered.
There was excitement in his eye as he entered. He came straight to his father, giving only a nod to Mistress Felicity, who twisted her head in a demure little way, as though in mockery of his important manner.
"Booh!--my lord duke!" she said almost under her breath.
"Well, my son," said Enderby, giving him his hand, "your face has none so cheerful a look. Hast thou no welcome for thy father?"
"I am glad you are home again, sir," said young Enderby, more dutifully than cordially.
There was silence for a moment.
"You do not ask my news," said his father, eyeing him debatingly.
"I have your news, sir," was the young man's half sullen reply.
His sister came near her father, where she could look her brother straight in the face, and her deep blue eyes fixed upon him intently. The smile almost faded from her lips, and her square chin seemed suddenly to take on an air of seriousness and strength.
"Well, sir?" asked his father.
"That you, sir, have refused a knighthood of the King; that he insists upon your keeping it; that he is about to levy upon your estates: and that you are outlawed from England."
"And what think you about the matter?" asked his father.
"I think it is a gentleman's duty to take the King's gifts without question," answered the young man.
"Whether the King be just or not, eh? Where would England have been, my son, if the barons had submitted to King John? Where would the Enderbys have been had they not withstood the purposes of Queen Mary? Come, come, the King has a chance to prove himself as John Enderby has proven himself. Midst other news, heard you not that last night I led a dozen gentlemen to the rescue of the King?"
"'Twas said in the village that his Majesty would remove his interdict and make you a baron, sir, if you met his levy for the knighthood."
"That I shall never do. Answer me, my son, do you stand with the King or with your father in this?"
"I am an Enderby," answered the youth, moodily, "and I stand with the head of our house."
That night as candles were being lighted, three score of the King's men, headed by Lord Rippingdale, placed themselves before the house, and an officer was sent forward to summon forth John Enderby.
Enderby had gathered his men together, and they were posted for defence